June 24, 1903

Considerable excitement was caused last night by the report of an outbreak of fire in Barnbygate. A crowd collected, the fire bell was rung, the fire escape and two reels sent and the steam fire engine despatched.

The fire arose in the house of Charles Teat, near the gasworks and some curtains were consumed but the flames were speedily put out and fortunately the damage done was slight. The services of the brigade were not required.

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On Sunday afternoon a cycle accident occurred at the junction of Kirkgate with Castlegate.

It seems that a young man named Harry Wrack, employed as a grocer's assistant by Messrs Dickins and Co, Appletongate, was turning the corner out of Castlegate and having some flowers in one hand he failed to steer his machine round and ran into the pavement.

The bicycle mounted the kerb and struck the wall below the shop window of Mr Archibald Campbell the rider being pitched at the window striking it with his elbow and shoulder. The plate glass was shattered but the cyclist escaped with a slight cut on one hand.

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A rifle club having been established in connection with Messrs James Hole and Co's Castle Brewery, the ceremony of opening the range was performed by Mr E. K. Marsland.

The range is situated at the back of the bottling stores, the entrance being from Albion Street.

The club has already secured 40 members.

Mr Marsland said since the late war the government, in its wisdom, had seen that if people had rifles to shoot with they would be only too pleased to use them and therefore it had encouraged the starting of rifle clubs all over the country.

June 17, 1903

A mass meeting of the Newark and District Trades Unionists was held at the Imperial Hall, Newark, when the speakers were Mr Richard Bell MP and Mr Fred Morley from Loughborough.

The chairman, Mr W. Randall, introduced the speakers and said it had been thought for some time that they ought to have someone down to explain the position of the labour movement.

Mr Randall said he did not believe in class distinction but the time had arrived when working men should have representatives of their own class.

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The fine old Church of All Saints, Long Bennington, after a thorough restoration of the interior, at a cost of £1,500, was re-opened for divine worship.

For a considerable period the sacred edifice had been in a dilapidated condition and a few years ago a proposal was made to remove the building and carefully re-erect it in the centre of the village.

A faculty was granted to enable the project to be carried out, the cost being estimated at £5,000.

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There was a very pleasant gathering at Newark Town Hall when the Mayor, Mr Alderman Earp, was presented with his portrait in recognition of nearly 40 years service to the town.

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A drawing-room meeting of the Ladies Auxiliary of the National Lifeboat Institution for Newark and district was held at the Chauntry, Newark.

Mr Boyle, the organising secretary for this part of the country, delivered an address on the claims and work of the society. He said it was difficult to impress people living in inland towns with the importance of lifeboat work.

June 10, 1903

A walking match arranged by Mr M. Roads of the George and Dragon Inn, Newark, from Sutton-on-Trent to Newark.

The starting point was the Volunteer Inn and the competitors finished at the lamp on the top of Beast Market Hill, the distance being nearly eight miles.
The pedestrians were conveyed to Sutton in brakes and 25 started in the race.

The winner, J. Hague, walked the distance in one hour nineteen minutes and so punishing was the pace that only four finished.

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A meeting of Claypole Rural District Council was held at the Ossington, Newark.

The surveyor, Mr C. D. M. Trinder, submitted his report on the main roads as follows: "This is the first year the steam roller has been generally at work in the district. From an examination of the figures I find that the main roads have cost more this year than in previous years.

"This I find is due to the greater quantity of material used and not so much the use of the roller."

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Major J. Stewart, one of the inspectors of the Local Government Board, attended the Petty Sessions Room, Newark, to hear an application by the county council to allocate west Newark to the electoral division of Norwell for county council purposes.

By some extraordinary oversight the parish has not been included in any electoral division and for county council purposes was practically disenfranchised.

June 3, 1903

A letter from the Vicar of Newark was read at a special meeting of Newark Town Council giving notice that the school now held in St Augustine's Mission Room would be discontinued on June 30 as a voluntary school.

The Vicar, in his letter, said: "During the past year HM Inspector of Schools have said plainly that they will not continue to allow the room to be recognised as a public elementary school under the Education Act unless certain important alterations and additions are made.

"As such alterations would injure the use of the room as a place of worship and of general religious instruction, and there are no funds available for making such additions as would be required, the managers of this school do not propose to carry it on beyond the appointed day."

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A pleasant and enjoyable evening was spent at the Imperial Hall when the pupils of King's Mount School, Newark, performed the May Day operetta, The Hawthorn Glen.

Upon Miss Rosetta Burdett Turner and Miss Adela Inman fell the brunt of the work connected with the staging and presentation of the piece which was in a striking manner, surprisingly successful.

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Fine weather favoured the 30th annual athletic meeting promoted by the Newark Football Club on Whit Monday.

A new feature was the motorcycle race about which some discussion had taken place as to its advisability and safety.

All precautions which foresight could conceive were taken to avoid catastrophes, the corners being protected by sheep netting so that the onlookers were not run into.